Before the first sub-zero temperatures set in, garden owners have to lend a hand again. In this article we will tell you exactly what to do.
When the nights get colder again after a warm and sunny summer and the temperatures drop towards zero, then autumn is just around the corner. A long walk in the autumn sun can be something very pleasant. Just like the crackling of the stove, which is allowed to make a comeback in the "golden season" after it has been shut down in summer.
Especially garden owners know about the effort and work that such a garden requires when the colder seasons of the year are approaching. Now it's time to make the right preparations and take the right precautions to make the garden winter-proof on time. If you prepare your garden for winter with these practical and helpful tips, you don't have to worry about spring. But how is the garden properly winterized and what must be considered so that everything can green and bloom again in spring?
1. Clean up and move beds
Anyone who still has a new plan for their beds in mind should implement it now. In autumn the soil has an even warmer temperature. This makes fall the perfect time to replan your beds, dig up plants and plant them elsewhere. In addition, the dried and old twigs and branches of the plants should now be cut back to 5 cm so that they can sprout he althy again in spring.
Cleaning up the garden makes sense. After all, garden furniture is vulnerable in winter, for example, and if it is made of wood, it can suffer permanent damage. Garden tools should also be checked and stowed in the garden tool shed. However, the focus should be on the garden pump in particular. Pumps that are outside should be disconnected from the well line, drained and wintered in a clean, dry place in the fall. Otherwise, threads or the entire pump could be damaged by frost or cold temperatures. If you don't want to subject your pump to this procedure or simply don't have a place to store it, you should cover the garden pump with insulatingProtect materials - we recommend Styrofoam or pump covers that have an insulating layer on the inside.
2. Lawn care is a mustThe lawn, the focal point of most gardens, should of course also be prepared for winter. This special lawn care is important to give the lawn a rest from the hardships of summer with heat and drought. First of all, all debris such as leaves, moss and old lawn clippings should be removed from the lawn. This can be done with a rake or rake. Now that the lawn can "breathe" again, it is mowed to a height of 6 cm. After mowing, I recommend fertilizing the lawn.
Prick the lawn with a fork every 10-20 cm so that the water can seep away better in the lawn due to long-lasting rain in autumn. The optimal depth for this is ten centimetres.
3. Set early bloomers - time for something new
Bulb flowers such as daffodils, tulips, crocuses and the like should definitely be planted in the ground before the first frost in autumn. While snow and ice determine the picture on the ground, the roots of flower bulbs will develop underground. In the spring, new and colorful flowers can be admired that welcome spring.
If you like to make preparations, you should also think about the birds in winter. The search for food is much more difficult in winter than in the warm seasons. Bird feeders offer good protection and a meeting place for feeding. Whether a bird house is set up in the middle of the garden or hanging under the terrace - the birds are grateful for every grain of what is "given" to them in the cold season. A bird house as a gift for (smaller) children can also be something great. Homemade or bought, a bird house is always an eye-catcher in the garden. Painted in bright colors, for example, it not only looks pretty, but also offers children a side effect - to arouse interest in native birds.
4. Frost protection for plants and potsProtection against frost should make every garden owner and plant lover aware. In autumn, temperatures can become critical for some plants at night. Since the temperatures in winter are often even colder and drop far below zero, the plant itself should be checked for the "hardy" characteristic, preferably before buying and planting. For some plants it is better if they spend the winter indoors. In the case of shrubs and perennials, small branches can be cutor foliage placed over the roots of the plant to protect them.
When larger potted plants are too heavy to overwinter indoors, then it depends on the right protection. The specialist trade offers different possibilities to protect the roots, the leaves or both of a plant. In a conversation with a specialist, the right material for wintering can be found.
5. Storing garden furniture
Garden furniture should be stored dry without getting too cold. Plastic furniture could “crack” from the frost and thus become unusable, while wooden furniture, even if weather-resistant wood has been used, can flake off and are then unattractive to look at. It is best to rub in a protective oil on a sunny autumn day and let it dry. This means that wooden furniture can be left well covered and dry outside in winter and does not necessarily have to be "squeezed" into the shed.
Of course you must not forget the upholstery of the garden furniture. Before you bring them inside, you should clean them with an upholstery cleaner, let them dry and then put them away.